Golf game

ABSTRACT

A device which indicates the distance and direction of flight of a struck golf ball includes a translucent disc rotatably mounted to a translucent cover plate on a housing. The disc includes indicia which portrays a representation of golf course fairways and greens. When viewed through the disc, a movable buttonlike member supported within the housing, below the plate, provides an indication of the position of a golf ball on the golf course fairway. The buttonlike member is adapted to be moved both along and laterally of the fairway representation in response to a tethered golf ball and teelike member being struck by a golf club. A system of gears, pulleys and carried rods connected the buttonlike member to the tethered golf ball and teelike member. The movement of the teelike member controls the lateral movement of the buttonlike member.

llitd [72] Inventor Robert G. Collup 675 Edgeview Drive, Sierra Madre,Calif. 91024 [21] Appl. No. 33,006 [22] Filed Apr. 29, 1970 [45]Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [54] GOLF GAME 12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 273/176 R, 273/176 L, 273/185 D [51] Int. Cl A63b 67/02 [50]Field of Search 273/176, 184, 185; 73/379, 380, 381

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,317 6/1930 Strasser273/176 L 2,186,337 1/1940 Jarkson 273/176R limiter; IFe viCe whicPrimary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Angus & Mon

direction of flight of a struck golf ball includes a translucent discrotatably mounted to a translucent cover plate on a housing. The discincludes indicia which portrays a representation of golf course fairwaysand greens. When viewed through the disc, a movable buttonlike membersupported within the housing, below the plate, provides an indication ofthe position of a golf ball on the golf course fairway. The buttonlikemember is adapted to be moved both along and laterally of the fairwayrepresentation in response to a tethered golf ball and teelike memberbeing struck by a golf club. A system of gears, pulleys and carried rodsconnected the buttonlike member to the tethered golf ball and teelikemember. The movement of the teelike member controls the lateral movementof the buttonlike member.

h indicates the distance and GOLF GAME This invention relates to golfersaids, and particularly to apparatus whereby a golf ball may be hit ordriven with a golf club and indicia indicates the range and accuracy ofsuch hit of drive.

Proficiency at the game of golf is ordinarily measured by accuracy indriving a golf ball down a fairway as well as putting the ball into thegolf hole upon reaching the green. Proficiency is not ordinarilyachieved until the golfer has spent many hours practicing hitting golfballs. I-Ieretofore, golfers have been able to practice putting on a rugor carpet or other simulated golf green gut have not been able topractice long drives unless they are actually on a golf course ordriving range. When the weather conditions were poor, it was not alwayspossible to practice driving golf balls due to the poor condition of agolf course or driving range.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus forsimulating fairways whereby a golfer may practice driving golf ballsdown a fairway, the apparatus indicating the range and accuracy of suchdrives.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus wherebygolfers may practice driving golf balls but no golf ball is actually hitfrom the premises.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus whichpermits a golfer to practice hitting golf balls over various golfcourses without actually being present at the particular course.

Another object of the present invention is to provide gaming apparatuswhereby several players may play golf on a simulated course.

In accordance with the present invention, apparatus is provided wherebya golf ball is fixedly mounted to an extended arm of a rotatable shaft.Upon hitting the golf ball, for example, with a golf club, the ballrotates the shaft thereby causing an indicator to move across asimulated golf course. Gear means associated with the golf ball isprovided for moving the indicator to'indicate slicing or cutting theball with the golf club.

One feature of the present invention resides in the fact that theindicator will move sideways to indicate slices and cuts" due toimperfect hitting of the golf ball.

in accordance with another feature of the present invention, thesimulated golf course is rotatable, so that the apparatus may beutilized for simulation of driving first in one direction, and then inanother direction.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, thesimulated golf course may simulate actual golf courses so that a golfermay practice drives on fairways of existing golf courses. The above andother features of this invention will be more fully understood in thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the apparatus in accordance with thepresently preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1taken at line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus as in FIG. 1 with the top removedto show the mechanics of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view of gear arrangement taken at line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the gears illustrated in FIG. 5 taken at line6-6 in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7-12 illustrate the operation of the gears in various modes ofoperation of the apparatus. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isillustrated the golfer's aid apparatus in accordance with the presentlypreferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus comprises aframe 10 supporting translucent top plate 11. Upper surface 12 isdisposed on frame 10 over extended portion 13 of the device. Translucentdisc 14 is journaled to plate ll via shaft 15. Translucent disc 14carries indicia 16 representative of the fairways, greens, and startingpads of various golf courses, the disc carrying indicia of severalfairways. Additional indicia 17 indicative of trees, sand traps and thelike may be dispersed about the representation of the course to furtherprovide realism to the course depicted on disc 14.

Golf ball 18 is mounted to arm 19 which in turn forms an integral partof vertically disposed shaft 20 which is adapted to be rotated at aboutaxis 21. As will be more fully understood hereinafter, rotation of ball18 about axis 21 causes rotation of shaft 20 which in turn providesmechanical movement of button or indicia 22 located behind translucentplate 11 below the simulated course depicted by indicia l6 and 17.Rotation of shaft 20 in the direction illustrated by arrow 23 will causemovement of button 22 in the direction of arrow 24. Also, as will bemore fully understood hereinafter, if the ball is not hit preciselytangentially to the arc of rotation of the ball, such as might beoccasioned by hitting the ball off center, slightly to one side or theother of the tangent of the arc defined by the rotation of the ball abutaxis 21, apparatus is provided for moving the indicia 22 in a directionperpendicular to the direction indicated by arrow 24. Hence, in theevent that the hit would slice or cut" the ball, which would ordinarilyresult in the ball taking a curvilinear path on a fairway of a golfcourse, the movement of the ball is simulated by indicia 22 in thatindicia 22 not only moves forwardly along the simulated course butslightly to one side.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the operation of the apparatus. As illustratedparticularly in FIG. 3, planetary gear 25 is fixed to shaft 20 and isadapted to be driven by rotation of shaft 20. Gear 25 is engaged to gear26 to rotate gear 26 which in turn drives shaft 27. Shaft 27 isjournaled to opposite sides of frame 10. Pulleys 28 and 29 are fixedlyattached to shaft 27 and endless belt 30 is wound over pulleys 28 and 29and about pulleys 3i and 32. Preferably, endless belt 30 is cross overin the region between pulleys 31 and 32 so that the belt passes throughan upper slot of one pulley and the lower slot of the other pulley andthe pulleys will move in the direction indicated by the arrows thereonwhen golf ball 18 is moved in the direction of arrow 23. Rod 33 has itsends slidably supported in slots 34 and 35 of frame 10 and, is fixedlyattached at points 36 and 37 to endless belt 30.

Shaft 38 is journaled to opposite sides of frame 10 and carries pulleys39 and 40 fixedly attached thereto. Endless belt 41 is wrapped overpulleys 39, 40, 70, and 42. As in the case of endless belt 30, it ispreferred that endless belt M be crossed over between pulleys 70 and 42so that the endless belt passes through an upper slot of one pulley andthence through a lower slot of the next pulley. Rod 43 has its endsslidably supported in slots 44 and 45 of frame 10 and is connected toendless belt 41 at points 46 and 47. The path of endless belt 41 may betraced commencing at point 46, about pulley 39, the lower slot 48 ofpulley 42 (FIG. 4), the upper slot 49 of pulley 70, to point 47, aboutpulley 40, the lower slot 50 of pulley 70, the upper slot 51 of pulley42, and back to point 46. Likewise, the path of endless belt 30 may betraced, commencing at point 36, around pulley 28 through the lower slotof pulley 31, the upper slot of pulley 32, to point 37, around pulley29, through the lower slot of pulley 32, the upper slot of pulley 31,and back to point 36.

In the event of rotation of shaft 38, rod 43 moves in a direction normalto rod 33, in the direction of, or reverse to, arrow 55. As illustratedin FIGS. 3 and 4 indicia or button 22 comprises an upper portion ofhousing 52 which is journaled to each of shafts 33 and 43 by means ofoversized passages 53 and 34 respectively.

As heretofore described the rotational movement of gall 18 about axis 21in the direction of arrow 23 causes movement of indicia 22 in thedirection of arrow 24. The extent or distance of movement of indicia 22is dependent upon the number of rotations of shaft 27 which in turn isdependent upon the number of rotations of ball 18 about axis 21 whichinturn is dependent upon the force striking ball 18. Also, as previouslyindicated, the indicia may be moved normal to the direction of arrow 24in the direction of arrow 55. The apparatus for accomplishing movementof indicia 22 in the direction of, or opposite to, arrow 55 comprisesshaft 38, endless belt 41 and pulleys 39, 40, 70, and 42 associatedtherein.

Shaft 38 is journaled to frame 10 and carries fixedly attached pulley 56which is coupled by means of belt 57 to pulley 56 which in turn isattached to shaft 59 of gear assembly 60. Gear assembly 60 isillustrated in greater detail in FIGS. and 6. Preferably, belt 57 iscrossed over so that pulleys 56 and 58 rotate in opposite directions.Alternatively, a chain of gears may be positioned to drive shaft 38 uponrotational movement of shaft 59.

Gear assembly 60, illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 5 and 6,comprises a set of differential gears having gear 61 journaled to shaft62 by means of bearings (not shown). Gear 64 is fixedly attached toshaft 59 and is engaged to gears 63 and 61. It is to be understood thata housing (not shown) holds the assemblage together, the housing havingbeen removed for purposes of illustration.

Shaft 65 is journaled to shaft 62 and is adapted to rotate about axis66. Clips 67 and 68 are fastened to shaft 65 on each side of shaft 62 toprevent movement of shaft 65 along its axis.

Tee 69, having an indented portion 69a conforming to ball 18, is mountedto the uppermost portion of shaft 65 and is positioned directly beneathgolf ball 18 when shaft 65 is in its upright or normal position and whenball 18 is in the position shown in FIG. 1. Hence, tee 69 simulates thetee on which the golf ball normally rests prior to being hit by a golferon an actual golf fairway. Teeth 71 and 72 are mounted to shaft 66 andare so disposed and arranged with gears 61 and 63 that upon clockwiserotation of shaft 65 about axis 66, tooth 72 engages gear 63, and uponcounterclockwise rotation of shaft 65, tooth 71 engages gear 61. Spring73 is attached to pin 74 which in turn is mounted to shaft 62 outside ofthe gear arrangement so that upon rotation of shaft 62 in a clockwisedirection (as appears in FIG. 5) spring 72 is biased in tension to biasshaft 62 back to the position illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In operation of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention,indicia 22 is moved to a position below the tee on the course shown byindicia 16 on disc 14, and the disc is rotated so that the direction ofarrow 24 corresponds to the direction in which the player desires todrive the ball. Ball 18 is positioned over tee 69, and the playerstanding adjacent ball 18 hits the ball with an ordinary golf club. Uponhitting the ball 18, the ball rotates in the direction of around axis 21driving shaft 27 several revolutions to drive belt 30. At the same time,the golfers club might strike golf tee 69 causing it likewise to rotateshaft 65 about axis 66 so that one or the other of teeth 71 and 72engage a respective gear 61 and 63. Tee 69 is rotated about shaft 62 todrive the gear engaged by tooth 71 or 72 to drive shaft 38 to driveendless belt 41.

Rotation of shaft 27 and driving of belt 30 causes rod 33 to movelaterally in the direction of arrow 24, carrying with it indicia 22which is slidably attached to rod 43. Also, rotation of tee 69 causesone of the teeth 71 or 72 to engage one of the gears 63 or 61,respectively, to drive gear 64 and shaft 59 in a respective direction.

In the case illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the player has hit tee 69 offcenter in such direction that a ball on a tee would travel forwardly andto the right (looking down a fairway), shaft 65 is rotated clockwise sothat tooth 72 engages gear 63. As tee 69 rotates shaft 62, gear 63 isdriven to rotate gear 64 and shaft 59 in the direction illustrated byarrow 80. Shaft 38 is driven by pulleys 56 and 58 and belt 57 in such amanner that endless belt 41 moves rod 43 in the direction illustrated byarrow 55. At the same time, rod 33 travels in the direction illustratedby arrow 24 due to rotation of ball 18 about the axis ofshaft 20.Indicia 22, being loosely coupled to rods 33 and 43 moves down thefairway and somewhat to the right in the simulated fairway illustratedon disc 14 (FIG. 1).

Conversely, and as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, iftee 69 is hit insuch a manner that a ball on the tee would be driven to the left (aslooking down the fairway) a counterclockwise rotation is imparted toshaft 65 causing tooth 71 to engage gear 61 thereby driving shaft 59 inthe direction illustrated by arrow 81. Hence, shaft 38 will be driven inthe direction opposite to that indicated so that endless belt 41 drivesrod 43 in the direction opposite to arrow 55 so that indicia 22 wouldappear to move forwardly and to the left down the simulated fairway ondisc 14.

In the event that a direct hit is made on ball 18, shaft 65 is notrotated about axis 66 and instead rotates about the axis of shaft 62 sothat neither tooth 71 or 72 engages a respective gear, and shaft 38 isnot rotated. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the condition of a direct hit onthe ball.

Spring 73 is provided for the purpose of returning shaft 62 to theposition illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 after each hit by the golfer. Inthis regard, each time shaft 62 is rotated about its axis, increasedtension on spring 73 mechanically biases shaft 62 at pin 74 to returnshaft 62 to its original position. Stop means (not shown) may beprovided to limit the travel of shaft 65.

In the event that it is desirable to alter the direction of travel ofindicia 22 down the fairway, such alteration can be achieved byrelatively rotating disc 14 until angular position of disc 14 is suchthat the direction of arrow is directly in line of the desired directionin which the player desires to hit a ball.

The present invention thus provides a golfers aid whereby a golfer maypractice driving a golf ball on a simulated fairway. The apparatus iscompact and may be used in a building, such as a living room of a homeor apartment. The indicia moves across the simulated fairway by adistance corresponding to the force striking ball 18 and can beaccurately related by means of the gears to the scale of the coursedepicted on disc 14.

According to one feature of the invention, the indicia 16 indicates theputting green may be independently rotatable on disc 14 so that in theevent that a golfer hits indicator 22 past the cup," the green may berotated so the golfer can putt back to the cup.

Several players may engage in a game of golf at one time and the indicia22 may be moved from position to position in accordance with thelocation of the golf ball of the player playing at the particular time.In the event several players are engaged in a game utilizing theapparatus in accordance with the present invention, it would bedesirable to include removable indicia (not shown) to be attached todisc 14 to indicate the position of each player's golf ball.

The apparatus according to this invention is useful and for driving anindicator down a simulated fairway by hitting a golf ball so that theapparatus simulates the drive of the ball on a fairway. With theapparatus, the golfer is able to make several drives to the green andthen putt on the green to the simulated golf hole. The present inventionthus provides apparatus by which an entire game of golf may be simulatedand which permits the playing ofone, or several, players at a time.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withmechanical drive mechanisms for driving indicia 22, it is to beunderstood that motor means, such as an electrical motor, may beutilized for moving indicia 22. In this regard, it is possible thatsensor means (not shown) responsive to the speed of rotation of shaft20, could operate on such motor means to drive indicia 22 forwardly inthe direction of arrow 24, andposition-sensitive means, such as contactswitches (not shown) could be associated with shaft 65 to sense hits onball 18 which are not directly in line with the tangent of the arctraveled by the ball about axis 21.

One feature of the invention resides in the fact that disc 14 may depictan actual golf course, or fairways on actual golf courses so that theuser may practice his swing and relate such practice to existingcourses. Disc 14 is removable from the socket receiving shaft 15 inplate 11 so that replacement disc 14 depicting other courses may bemounted to plate 11.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in thedrawings and described in the description, which is given by way ofexample and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising: a housing supporting a platform; movableindicia means supported by said housing for indicating a simulatedposition of a golf ball on said platform; a ball supported by saidhousing and adapted to be struck by a golf club; and drive means formoving said indicia means in a direction and for distance across saidplatform dependent upon the direction and force striking the ball.

2. Apparatus according to claim ll wherein said drive means comprisesfirst motive means for moving said indicia means in a first directionfor a distance dependent upon the force striking said ball and secondmotive meansfor moving said indicia in a direction perpendicular to saidfirst direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ball is mounted to anextended arm of a shaft having an axis about which the shaft and ballmay be rotated, said second motive means being operable to move saidindicia means when said ball is struck in a direction which is nottangent to the arc of travel of said ball about said axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first motive meanscomprises first carrier means supported by said housing and coupled tosaid indicia means, support shaft means defining an axis and having anoutwardly extending arm, said ball being mounted to said outwardlyextending arm and coupled to said shaft means and said first carriermeans for moving said carrier means in a direction parallel to saidfirst direction upon rotation of said shaft means about said axis.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second motive meanscomprises second carrier means supported by said housing and coupled tosaid indicia means, and means coupled to said second carrier means formoving said second carrier means in a direction perpendicular to saidfirst direction upon striking said ball in a direction not parallel tothe tangent of the are of rotation of said ball about said axis at thepoint of impact of the ball.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said indicia means includes abody, first journal means joumaling said body to said first carriermeans for movement along said first carrier means and second journalmeans journaling said body to said second carrier means for movementalong said second carrier means 7. Apparatus according to claim 2wherein said first motive means comprises a first drive shaft journaledto said housing, a substantially vertical support shaft defining an axisand having an outwardly extending arm, said ball being mounted to saidoutwardly extended arm, gear means coupling said support shaft to saidfirst drive shaft so that upon rotation of said ball about said axissaid first drive shaft is rotated, a first carrier rod slidablysupported by said housing, the length of said first carrier rod beingdisposed substantially normal to said first direction, and first endlessbelt means being attached to said first carrier rod and coupled to saidfirst drive shaft to move said first carrier rod in a direction parallelto said first direction upon rotation of said first drive shaft, andsaid second motive means comprises a second drive shafi journaled tosaid housing, an upwardly extending shaft having a tip adapted to bepositioned on the arc of rotation of said ball in close proximity tosaid ball, sensor means coupled to said second drive shaft to rotatesaid second drive shaft when said upwardly extending shaft is moved in adirection not parallel to the tangent of the arc of rotation of saidball, said second drive shaft being rotated in one direction when saidupwardly extending shaft is moved to one side of said tangent and saidsecond drive shaft being rotated in the opposite direction when saidupwardly extending shaft is moved to the opposite side of said tangent,a second carrier rod slidably supported by said housing, the length ofsaid second carrier rod being disposed substantially parallel to saidfirst direction, and second endless belt means attached to said secondcarrier rod and coupled to said second drive shaft to move said secondcarrier rod in a direction perpendicular to said first direction uponrotation of said second drive shaft, said indicia means being coupled tosaid first and second carrier rods to move with said carrier rods.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said indicia means includes abody, first journal means joumaling said body to said first carrier rodfor movement along the length of said first carrier rod, and secondjournal means joumaling said body to said second carrier rod formovement along the length of said second carrier rod.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said sensor means comprisesdifferential gear means comprising a driven gear coupled to said seconddrive shafi, and first and second drive gears engaged to said drivengear, said upwardly extending shaft being coupled to a further shaftwhich is journaled to said first and second drive gears, first andsecond tooth means mounted to said upwardly extending shaft whereby uponstriking said tip in a direction not parallel to the tangent of the arcof rotation of said ball one of said tooth means engages a respectiveone of said drive gears and said upwardly extending shaft rotates aboutthe axis of said further shaft thereby driving said respective drivegear to said driven gear in a respective direction.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said indicia means includes abody, first journal means joumaling said body to said first carrier rodfor movement along the length of said first carrier rod, and secondjournal means joumaling said body to said second carrier rod formovement along the length of said second carrier rod.

11. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including means joumalingsaid platform to said housing for rotation about an axis of saidplatform.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including fixed indicia meanson said platform depicting a golf course.

1. Apparatus comprising: a housing supporting a platform; movableindicia means supported by said housing for indicating a simulatedposition of a golf ball on said platform; a ball supported by saidhousing and adapted to be struck by a golf club; and drive means formoving said indicia means in a direction and for distance across saidplatform dependent upon the direction and force striking the ball. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises firstmotive means for moving said indicia means in a first direction for adistance dependent upon the force striking said ball and second motivemeans for moving said indicia in a direction perpendicular to said firstdirection.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ball ismounted to an extended arm of a shaft having an axis about which theshaft and ball may be rotated, said second motive means being operableto move said indicia means when said ball is struck in a direction whichis not tangent to the arc of travel of said ball about said axis. 4.Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first motive means comprisesfirst carrier means supported by said housing and coupled to saidindicia means, support shaft means defining an axis and having anoutwardly extending arm, said ball being mounted to said outwardlyextending arm and coupled to said shaft means and said first carriermeans for moving said carrier means in a direction parallel to saidfirst direction upon rotation of said shaft means about said axis. 5.Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second motive meanscompriSes second carrier means supported by said housing and coupled tosaid indicia means, and means coupled to said second carrier means formoving said second carrier means in a direction perpendicular to saidfirst direction upon striking said ball in a direction not parallel tothe tangent of the arc of rotation of said ball about said axis at thepoint of impact of the ball.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 whereinsaid indicia means includes a body, first journal means journaling saidbody to said first carrier means for movement along said first carriermeans and second journal means journaling said body to said secondcarrier means for movement along said second carrier means
 7. Apparatusaccording to claim 2 wherein said first motive means comprises a firstdrive shaft journaled to said housing, a substantially vertical supportshaft defining an axis and having an outwardly extending arm, said ballbeing mounted to said outwardly extended arm, gear means coupling saidsupport shaft to said first drive shaft so that upon rotation of saidball about said axis said first drive shaft is rotated, a first carrierrod slidably supported by said housing, the length of said first carrierrod being disposed substantially normal to said first direction, andfirst endless belt means being attached to said first carrier rod andcoupled to said first drive shaft to move said first carrier rod in adirection parallel to said first direction upon rotation of said firstdrive shaft, and said second motive means comprises a second drive shaftjournaled to said housing, an upwardly extending shaft having a tipadapted to be positioned on the arc of rotation of said ball in closeproximity to said ball, sensor means coupled to said second drive shaftto rotate said second drive shaft when said upwardly extending shaft ismoved in a direction not parallel to the tangent of the arc of rotationof said ball, said second drive shaft being rotated in one directionwhen said upwardly extending shaft is moved to one side of said tangentand said second drive shaft being rotated in the opposite direction whensaid upwardly extending shaft is moved to the opposite side of saidtangent, a second carrier rod slidably supported by said housing, thelength of said second carrier rod being disposed substantially parallelto said first direction, and second endless belt means attached to saidsecond carrier rod and coupled to said second drive shaft to move saidsecond carrier rod in a direction perpendicular to said first directionupon rotation of said second drive shaft, said indicia means beingcoupled to said first and second carrier rods to move with said carrierrods.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said indicia meansincludes a body, first journal means journaling said body to said firstcarrier rod for movement along the length of said first carrier rod, andsecond journal means journaling said body to said second carrier rod formovement along the length of said second carrier rod.
 9. Apparatusaccording to claim 7 wherein said sensor means comprises differentialgear means comprising a driven gear coupled to said second drive shaft,and first and second drive gears engaged to said driven gear, saidupwardly extending shaft being coupled to a further shaft which isjournaled to said first and second drive gears, first and second toothmeans mounted to said upwardly extending shaft whereby upon strikingsaid tip in a direction not parallel to the tangent of the arc ofrotation of said ball one of said tooth means engages a respective oneof said drive gears and said upwardly extending shaft rotates about theaxis of said further shaft thereby driving said respective drive gear tosaid driven gear in a respective direction.
 10. Apparatus according toclaim 9 wherein said indicia means includes a body, first journal meansjournaling said body to said first carrier rod for movement along thelength of said first carrier rod, and second journal means journalingsaid body to said seCond carrier rod for movement along the length ofsaid second carrier rod.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 2 furtherincluding means journaling said platform to said housing for rotationabout an axis of said platform.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 2further including fixed indicia means on said platform depicting a golfcourse.